Suction cleanek



Jan. 25, 1944. 0. G. SMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER Original Filed Dec. 13,1939 I mvEN'roR' flonald G. S'mellz'e ATTO RN EY Reissued Jan. 25, 1944UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUCTION CLEANER Donald G. Smellie, Canton,om, assllliol' to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a comration ofOhio Original No. 2,260,236,

16 Claims.

handle, sound-absorbing means which extend into the bag and are somounted as to improve the relationship 01 the bag to the cleaner body. Astill Iurther object of the invention is to provide a suction cleanerconstruction in which the dust has carried by the pivoted handle isconnected through the sound-absorbing muiiier and its fixed pivotalconnection to the cleaner body. A further object oi the invention i toprovide a suction cleaner in which the sound-absorbin fl r is connectedto the exhaust outlet or the cleaner by means of a collapsible bellowsand rigid means pivoted upon an horizontal axis. These and other morespecific objects will appear upon reading the following specificationand claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attacheddrawing to which they relate.

Reierring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment oi thepresent invention is disclosed: W

Figure 1 is a side elevation 01 a modern suction cleaner embodying thepresent invention;

Figu e 2 is an enlarged section through the cleaner muiller and bagunit.

In the modern suction cleaner the noise of cleaner operation has beengreatly reduced by numerous refinements until today a large part of theaudible sounds are discharged into the ambient by means of the exhaustedair from the cleaner. The removal or the this exhausted air isaccomplished in the present invention by a new and improvedconstructionwhich has the advantage or providing an improved connection between thecleaner bag and the cleaner body.

Referring again to the drawing, a suction cleaner is disclosed which isseen to comprise a nomle I which is interiorly connected by an airpassageway 2 to a fan chamber 3 housing a suction-creating ran. Withinthe nozzle I is positioned-ta rotary,.-agitator 5 which is driven throuh a power-transmitting belt 6 by suitable unshcwn motor posimeans whichincludes an sound vibrations in I dated October 21, 1941, Serial No.308,914, December 13, for reissue October 1, 1942, Serial No.

1939. Application pl-VOW mounted.

tioned within a motor casing 1, immediately over Ian chamber 3, theshaft 8 or which extends downwardly through the fan chamber where itcarries the suction-creating fan 4. The fan chamber 3 is provided withan formed with a rear flange Ill to which the bag and muiller unit,hereinafter described, is removably secured by means of a manuallyoperable securing element II. The cleaner body is movably supported bymeans of the front and rear wheels I! and I3, respectively, and, as inthe usual cleaner, a pivoted handle H is provided by which the operatorcan-exert a propelling force.

The bag and muiiier unit is seen to comprise a connector it formed inits principal body portion as a conduit. there being a transverselyextending flange lb at the entrance of the conduit which is adapted toabut and be secured to the cleaner exhaust iiange In by the manuallyoperable securing means ll. Connector I5 is termed above its conduitbody portion with a rearwardiy extending supporting bracket or arm ii towhich the lower rigid casing section l8 oi the muiiier is DECLl-Oll l8comprises an outer cylmorlcal body portion I! and an enlarged headportion 2|] prereraoly shaped as illustrated in .r'lgures 1 and 2, whichis pivoted by means of a pin 2| upon the supporting bracket ll. An outermetallic, cylindrical body section 22 seats upon the cylindrical bodyportion Ill 01 section Id and extends tllel'ebeyonu, substantially as acontinuation, being rormeo. at its outer'end with an inwardly curved rimor face. Seated within me rigid body, iormed by I9 and 22 is a cylinderof sound-absorbing materlal such as sponge rubber, indicated at a,which-is connned against outward displacement by me inwardly turned endor cylinder '11 and against inward displacement by the mtulned mange a lrormed upon'sectlon In at the Junction 01 the head portion Ill and theupper portion l8.

'lhe passageway body portion or lining It is connected to the conquitbody portion or connector i5 by means of an expanslble contractlblebellows 21 which is pl'eferably made or rubber or some similar resllientmaterial and mum comprlses a plurality oi circular corrugations orpleats which are or greater depth at the bottom than at the top. Thebellows is clamped to the conduit-body of conarhaust outlet 9 a throughthe sound-absorbing I supported at its upper end by'a supporting strap33 and a channel member 34 which closes the upper end of the bag. At theneck of the bag is,

a cylindrical sleeve 35 which, like the bag itself, is preferably. madeof paper but of a stifier variety and which is of a size adapted closelyto enclose the mufller body. which secure the lower end of the bag inplace upon the mufller, as illustrated, is disclosed and claimed in theco-pending application, Serial No.

283,326, filed by Harry B. -White, July 8, 1939,

and is not per se the present invention. Briefly, the securing meanscomprises a rubber ring or sleeve 38 which seats within a peripheralrecess 39 in the mufiier cylindrical body pgrtionJa,

closely enclosing that element by its own resiliency. Within and underthe rubber ring 38, and seated in a peripheral groove 40 of even smallerdiameter, are'expansible rings 42 which are provided with one or morelever arms 43 pivoted within the muiiier head section 20 at 44. Rings 42are illustrated in Figure 2 in the sleeve-expanding, bag-retainingrelationship. Normally the expansible rings do not expand the rubberring or sleeve 38 except upon the expanding movement of the lever arm 43which is accomplished bythe manual pivoting of a pivoted lever arm 45from an outstanding radial position to that shown in Figure 2. The leverarm is shown in its lower position in Figure 2 and the expansis blerings have been expanded to expand the retaining rubber'sleeve 38 tosecure the neck'of the bag 32 in place. The exact construction of thisretaining means is not of the essence of'this invention but is insteadclaimed in the copending application mentioned.

The construction is completed by the presence of a coil spring 48 and aresilient bumper 49. The spring 48 encircles the pivot pin 2| of themuilier and bag construction and is in contact at one of its ends withthe head 20 of the muflier and at its opposite end with the arm I! ofthe connector. Spring 48 functions at all times to.

exert an upwardly pivoting force upon the muiiler The retaining meansreducing the lifting eifect necessary from the operator. In theoperation of the cleaner, the cleaning air laden with foreign materialis exhausted from the cleaner exhaust 9 through the bellows 21 and themuflier and into the bag. As

it passes through the sound-absorbing material 23 thesoundwavesfttherein are reducedand absorbedand the 'air is exhausted into'thebag proper in a quieted condition producing a quieter operation of thecleaner. Bag replacement is accomplished by pivoting the manuallyoperable lever 45 outwardly, whereupon the rings 42 move inwardly, theresilient sleeve 38 contracts, and the bag neck can be slid off thecylindrical muiiler body. The insertion of a new or cleaned bag isexactly the reverse operation.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner comprising a body formed with an exhaust outletand suctioncreating means to exhaust dirt-laden air through said outlet,a handle pivotally connected to said body, a dirt-filtering bagsupported at its upper end from said handle and formed at its lower endwith a reduced neck portion, a sound-absorbing muflier detachablyseatingsaid bag, rigid means pivotally mounting said muilier to saidexhaust outlet about an horizontal. axis fixed relative to the cleanerbody to enable said muflier to move unit. The bumper 49, which may be ofrubber, is

carried by the lower casing section l8 of the muffier body on itsunderside, being so positioned as to contact articles of furniture etc.which are struck by the cleaner when moving in a rearward direction. Inoperation the cleaner constructed in accordance with the presentinvention is pro- ,pelled back and forth across the surface coveringundergoing cleaning by the operator exerting a propelling force throughthe cleaner handle l4. As the machine is reciprocated the angularposition of the handle relative to the cleaner body changes and as itchanges the upper end of the dust bag 32 is raised and. loweredeffecting a change in bag angularity. With the cleaner constructed inaccordance with the present invention this change in angularity isaccomplished by the pivotal movement of the bag and the muflierconstruction about the pivotal axis 2|, the relative movement beingaccommodated by the expansion and compression of the bellows 21. Thecoil spring 48 at thepivotal axis serves at all timesto exert a liftingforce upon the bag and muiiler which tends to offset the weight thereof,thereby Q relative to said body under forces transmitted through saidbag, from thehandle, and means including an expansible-contractibleaccordionlike rubber tube interiorly connecting said muiiler to saidexhaust outlet in all positions of the former.

2. In a suction cleaner comprising a body formed'with an exhaustoutlet'and suction-creating means to exhaust dirt-laden air through saidoutlet, a handle pivotally connected to said body, a dirt-filtering bagsupported at its upper end from said handle and formed at its lower endWitha reduced neck portion, a sound-absorbing muiiler detachably seatingsaid bag, rigid means pivotally mounting 'said mufller, to. said exhaustoutlet about an horizontal axis fixed relative to the cleaner body toenable said muffier to move relative to said body under forcestransmitted through said bag from the handle,

and means including an expansible-contractible rubber bellows positionedat one side of and below the pivotal axisof said rigid pivotal mountingmeans and interiorly connecting said muflier to said exhaust outlet inall positions of the former.

3. A suction-cleaner bag and muiiler unit comprising a connector adaptedto be detachably secured to the exhaust outlet of a suction cleaner andincluding a body-conduit portion, a soundabsorbing muiiler pivoted abouta fixed axis on said connector, an expansible-contractible bellowsconnecting the interiors of said muiiier and said body-conduit portion,and a dust bag removably seated on said muflier.

4. A suction-cleaner bag and muilier unit comprising a connector adaptedto be detachably se cured to the exhaust outlet of a suction cleaner andincluding a body-conduit portion, a soundabsorbing muliier including arigid body and sound-absorbing material, rigid means pivotally mountingthe mufller body for limited pivotal movement about a fixed axis on saidconnector, an expansible-contractible resilient connection between saidmother and said connector, and a dust bag seated on said muilier.

5. A suction-cleaner bag and mufller unit comprising a connector adaptedto be detachably secured to'the exhaust outlet ot a suction cleaner andincluding a body-conduit portion, a cyllndrical sound-absorbing muffleraligned with the body-conduit portion of said connector, rigid meanspivotally connecting said mufiler to said connector for movement aboutan axis above said body-conduit portion, spring means urging saidmuffler upwardly about said pivotal axis, expansible-contractibleresilient means connecting said ing construction comprising a tubularconnector adapted to be detachably seated upon the exmuflier to saidbody-conduit portion, and a dust bag removably seated on said mufller.

6. A suction-cleaner bag and mufiler unit comprising a connector adaptedto be detachably securedto the exhaust outlet of a suction cleaner andincluding a body-conduit portion, a soundabsorbing muffler including arigid body, rigid means pivotally mounting said rigidmuffier body onsaid connector and preventing relative movement therebetween exceptabout the pivotal axis, expansible-contractible resilient meansconnecting said mulller to said body-conduit portion, manually operablebag-seating-and-securing means on said mufiler, and a dust bag removablyseated on said muffler.

7. Ina suction cleaner, an ambulant body in eluding a nozzle and anexhaust outlet, a soundabsorbing muffler pivotally connected to saidexhaust outlet by means of an expansible-contractible bellows and byrigid pivotally related means adjacent and at the side of saidexpansible-contractible means, and bag-retaining means movable with saidmuffler.

8. In a suction cleaner, an ambulant body, a propelling handle pivotallyconnected thereto, a

'suction nozzle, suction-creating means connected thereto, an exhaustoutlet to convey dirt-laden air from said means, a dirt-filtering bag toreceive air from said outlet supported at its upper end by said handle,a muffler structure including an acoustic absorption means positionedwithin said bag, means to connect interiorly said has and muffler tosaid exhaust outlet to receive air therefrom including a flexibleconnection in the form of a bellows structure movabl supporting saidmuffler whereby said muffler may be displaced readily by a forcetransmitted through the bag from the handle in pivoting, and rigid meansat one side of said bellows limiting bag and muffler movement to apivotal movement about a fixed axis.

' 9. In a suction cleaner muffler and bag-mounting construction, amuffler including bag-seating means, a seating member adapted to beseated upon the exhaust outlet of a suction cleaner to which saidmufiler is pivoted for movement about a fixed axis, andexpansible-contractible resilient -means between said muffler and saidseating member to connect interiorly said muffler to an exhaust outlet.7 10. A suction cleaner mufller and bag-mounting construction comprisinga connector adapted to be detachably seated upon the exhaust outlet of asuction cleaner, a muiller including bagseating means adapted to'receivethe mouth of a suction cleaner dust bag, a rigid pivotal connectionbetween said muilier and said connector, and expansible-contractiblemeans interiorly connecting said connector and said muffler.

11. A suction cleaner muffler and bag-mount- V haust outlet of a suctioncleaner, a muffler including a rigid cylindrical body portion and anadjacent sound-absorbing body, bag-seating-andretaining means on saidbody portion, a rigid pivotal connection between said muffler and saidconnector, and an expansible-contractible tubular bellows interiorlyconnecting said 'mufller and said connector. 12. A suction cleanermuffler and bag-mounting construction comprising a connector adapted tobe detachably seated upon the exhaust outlet of a suction cleaner, amuffler including bagseating means adapted to receive the mouth of asuction cleaner dust bag, a rigid pivotal connection between saidmuffler and said connector, expansible-contractible means interiorlyconnecting said connector and said muffler, and resilient meansexertingv a force to counterbalance the effect of gravityacting to pivotsaid mufller about 'of a suction cleaner, a muffler including bagseatingmeans adapted to receive the mouth of a suction cleaner dust bag, arigid pivotal connection between said muiller and said connector,expansibleecontractible means interiorly connecting said connector andsaid muffler, and a spiral coil spring at said pivotal connectionexerting a force on said muffler to counterbalance the effect of gravityacting thereon.

14. In a suction cleaner, a body including an exhaust outlet, a mufilerincluding sound-absorbing means movably mounted on said outlet andextended therefrom, means interiorly and movably connecting said mufilerto said body and to said outlet including an expansible bellows, a dustbag seated on said muffler and movable therewith relative to said body,resilient means between said body and said muffler exerting a liftingforce on said muffler tending to pivot it upwardly to counterbalance theeffect of gravity on said mufller and bag, and manually operable meanscarried permanently on said muffler detachably securing said bag inplace. a

15. In a suction cleaner a body including an exhaust outlet, a mufflerincluding sound-absorbing meanspivotally mounted on said outlet andextended therefrom, a coil spring at the pivot point of said mufflerexerting a lifting force thereon the exhaust outlet to lift said mufllerto counterbalance the. effect of gravity on said muffler and bag.

DONALD SMELLIE.

